WASHINGTON (December 3, 2024) – Navy quarterback Braxton Woodson, making his first start of the season, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after his career-best performance sparked the Midshipmen to a 34-20 win over East Carolina this past Friday.

Woodson, a sophomore, completed 12 of 19 passes for a career-high 165 yards and one touchdown and rushed 15 times for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns as Navy (8-3, 6-2) clinched third place in the American Athletic Conference.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way our guys rallied around our young quarterback and couldn't be more proud of the way he played today," Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. "That was critical for him to come out here and have success. Everything from here on out is up for that young man. Super proud of the way Braxton played and composed himself.

"Braxton settled in once he made a few plays. He gained a little confidence. And we had a bunch of guys make plays out here."

East Carolina, which had won its previous four games, led 3-0 at halftime. But after failing to put points on the board in the first half, Woodson directed five touchdown drives in the second half, including a 61-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Kent and touchdown runs of 38 and 10 yards.

"It's a great feeling," said Woodson, who started in place of injured teammate Blake Horvath. "You put a lot of work into this sport and to show the fruits of your labor on the field, it's amazing."

The Midshipmen have one more regular season game remaining. The winner of the Army-Navy game presented by USAA on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Northwest Stadium will win the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

This week's DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:
·       Villanova RB David Avit (Churchill) rushed 17 times for 94 yards and caught two passes for 75 yards as the Wildcats beat Eastern Kentucky, 22-17, in an FCS first-round playoff game.
·       Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns as the River Hawks beat Hobart, 42-35, in a Division III second-round game.
·       LSU LB Greg Penn III (DeMatha) made nine tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss as the Tigers beat Oklahoma, 37-17.
·       BYU S Tanner Wall (Yorktown) made 13 tackles – more than double his previous career high – as the Cougars beat Houston, 30-18.
·       Virginia Tech LB Caleb Woodson (Battlefield) made a team-leading nine tackles as the Hokies beat Virginia, 37-17.

ABOUT THE MILITARY BOWL FOUNDATION
The Military Bowl Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates premier events in the National Capital Region to benefit our nation's service members. Originally formed to create the region's first-ever college football postseason bowl game, the Foundation now not only runs the Go Bowling Military Bowl but additionally operates the DC Touchdown Club and Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Foundation hosts engaging events throughout the year to raise money and awareness for military service members, directly impacting those who give so much of themselves for the country.

ABOUT THE DC TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The DC Touchdown Club honors the best in Washington Metro football, with year-round events highlighted by an annual awards dinner. Operated by the Military Bowl Foundation, the Touchdown Club promotes the game of football, hosts entertaining social events and generates a significant philanthropic impact for Patriot Point. To learn more about the Touchdown Club, visit dctouchdownclub.com, or follow the Touchdown Club on Twitter and Instagram @DCTouchdown Club and like the Touchdown Club on Facebook.